The Little Book of String Theory by Steven S. Gubser

'This is an engaging and concise introduction to the main ideas in string theory. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.

How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. String theory has been called the 'theory of everything.' It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today.

The Little Book of String Theory by Steven S. Gubser